Anti-mouth-breathing device



May 24,1927. I 1,629,892

R. B. STORMS ANTI MOUTH BREATHING DEVICE Filed June 22. 1925 discomfort to the wearer, absolutel My inventive concept involves the Patented May 24, 1927."

PATENT... OFFICE;

BASIL STORES, OI INDIAIAIOIIIS, INDIAN.

, ANTI-HOUTE-BBEATEIIG DEVIOE,

Application filed June #1925. s rial a. saw.

This invention relatesto improvements anti-mouth breathing de ices, and has for its pri object the rovislon of a device of the character w ich W111, without P vent mouth-breathing and snoring, w ich is a direct result of mouth-breathing.

I am aware that devices of this general character have been proposed WhlCh are 10 designed to function b forcibly holding .the'

mouth in closed con ition by means of a strap passing over the head and under the chin. Such devices .are, however, very uncomfortable to wear, as the strap must be 16 very tight in order to function atall and,

in addition, the mere holding .of the month closed does not prevent snorm as there 1s nothing to prevent the lips alhng apart and 'thus permit mouth-breathmg.

vision of a device of th1s character in which: :(1) The head-piece is so devised that 1t ermits entirely free'movement of the head 1n any direction without causing the straps thereof to become loose or bind the head of the wearer.

(2) The mouth-piece is made of rubber or like flexible material so molded as to conform to the contour of the lips and mouth so and therefore is adapted to prevent air passing thercaround without being drawn uncomfortably tight.

(3) The mouth-piece ,is capable of easy attachment to and detachment from the .36 head-piece, thus obviating the necessity of removing the entire device to cough or ex-' pectorate.

(4) The mouth-piece, being of rubber and easily detachable from the head-piece,

40 is easily cleaned and sterilized as by imconstruction, combinations of elements, and

arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the' claims.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following'detailed description, taken in connection wlth the accompanying drawingforming a art of the disclosure, it being understood t at while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to the showing thereof but may be changed or modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the essential features of the invention as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In this drawing:

ing a device embodying the features of the invention as applied 1n operative position on the head of the wearer;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the molded mouth piece;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, some- ;Pvhat enlarged and taken on the line 3- -3 of Fi is a similar view taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view in plan of the mouthpiece asshown in Fig. 2, portions of the head-piece being shown in section to illustrate the manner in which the mouth-piece is secured thereto. a

In the particular embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in the drawing, the reference-character 1 designates, head-piece or harness prefera ly and as enerally, a

or strap 2, a be -strap 3, and a narrower chin-strap or band 4.

The strap 2, which is preferably constructed of cotton or silk webbin considerable width to prevent cutting action on the head and chin of the wearer, has a buckle 5 fast to one of its ends and is lon enough to pass about the head and chin o of some the wearer and extend through the buckle to permit adjustment in the size of the loop thus formed.

The stra 2 is desi ed to encircle the head direct y above t e ears and, in the com leted head-harness, is disposed with the uckle 5 in convenient position adjacent the temple.

The strap 3, which is constructed of the same kind of material and is equal in width to the'strap 2, is made up of two sections adjustably secured together by means of a buckle 6. The free endsof the strap 3 are permanently fastened, as by stitching 7, to opposite sides of the strap 2 at points which are adjacent the upper ortion of the ears of the wearer when the arness is in operative position (as shown in Fig. 1). The strap 3 is designed to encircle the occipital part of the head just above the base of the ears and if desired may overlie the latter and thus serve to retain them in their proper position close to the head. It will be observed that by reason of the fact that the strap 3 dpasses around the occipital part of the hea rather than about the back of the neck, as is the case with certain known devices, the position of the head-harness is not affected by movement of the head, and there is consequently no loosening or tightening of the straps upon such movement.

The chin-strap 4, which is preferably composed of elastic webbing somewhat narrower than the webbing employed in the remainder of the harness, has its ends permanently secured to the res ective sides of the strap 2 as at 8, and is esigned to pass about the chin and cooperate with the band 3 to yieldingly maintain the strap 2 in proper position.

Fastening elements 9 areprovided on the strap 2, in substantial alinement with or slightly above the mouth, and serve, by cooperation with fasteners 10 on the respective ends of a mouth-piece 11 about to be described, to removably secure the latter in operative position over the mouth of the wearer.

Preferably and as shown, the mouthpiece 11 is constructed of rubber or the like material and is molded to the contour of the lips in order that it may prevent mouthbreathing and snoring when gently fitted against and around the lips without being drawn tight enough to draw the mouth out of shape or cause discomfort to the wearer. The mouth-piece comprises a central diaphragm or membrane 12 of relatively thin rubber, which is surrounded on one of its sides 'by a thick rim 13 which tapers inwardly from its outer'extremity toward the diaphragm, as at 14, so that it will contact snugly with the slope-of the lips and prevent passage of air to or from the mouth when associated with and maintained in position by the head-harness hereinbefore described.

It will be observed that the contour of the rim 13 is irregular and it has been found by experiment that the mouth-piece 11 is best suited to applicants purposes when formed as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawing. As here shown, the mouth-piece is relatively narrow at the center and is wider at each side of the center by reason of elevations 15 and 16 at the top and bottom,

respectively, of the mouth-piece, those at the bottom being greater than those at the top and defining a recess 17 between' them WhlCh 1s deeper than the recess 18 between the elevations 15.

The rim 13 is thickened, as at 19, adjacent the recess 17 in order to more closely fit within the depression below the lips of the wearer.

It is desirable that the diaphragm l2 and rim 13 be soft and pliable and therefore capable of stretching to a limited degree; but it is essential that tabs 20 which carry the fastening elements 10 shall be of more durable and inelastic construction, and these tabs are therefore preferably made of rubber and fabric integrally united and secured to the rim 13 during the molding and vulcanization of the mouth-piece.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that a device has been rovided which will adequately perform the unctions ascribed to it without discomfort to the wearer.

What I claim is;

1. An anti-mouthbreathing device comprising a head-harness including an adjustable main band adapted to pass over the head and under the chin of the wearer, and an adjustable back band having its ends fast to the respective sides of the main band and adapted to pass above the ears and about the back of the head of the wearer, a mouth piece adapted to fit over the mouth of the wearer, and means for detachabl connecting said mouth-piece to said head harness.

2. An anti-mouthbreathing device comprising a head-harness including an adjustable main band adapted to pass over the head and under the chin of the wearer, an adjustable back band having its ends fast to the respective sides of the main band and adapted to pass above the ears and about the back of the head of the wearer, and an elastic strip having its ends fast to the respective sides of the main band and adapted to pass above the front of the chin of the wearer, a mouth-piece adapted to fit over the mouth of the wearer, and means for detachably connecting said mouth-piece to said head-harness.

'3. An anti-mouthbreathing device comprising a head-harness, an imperforate ably securing and maintaining the latter in operative position. I

4. A mouth-piece for the prevention of mouth-breathing comprising a membrane, and a relatively thick bordering rim integral with and projecting from one surface of the membrane to fit the face above the mouth.

5. A mouth-piece for the prevention of mouth breathing comprising a membrane, a relatively thick bordering rim integral with and projecting from one surface of the membrane to fit the face above the mouth, and vfastening tabs integral with and secured to said rim.

6.-A11 anti-mouth breathing device comprising a head-harness, a one-piece rubber member molded to conform to the contour of the mouth of the wearer, and means for detachably securing said member in operative position to said harness whereb the wearer may partially remove the mem er to permit coughing or expectorating or wholly remove the member for cleaning or sterilization thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROY BASIL STOBMS. 

